Apparatus and method of processing raw materials

Abstract

A method and apparatus for processing animal byproduct materials is disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a grinder for grinding the byproduct materials; a mixer for mixing the ground byproduct materials with an oil absorbing material and a backmix material; and a dryer for drying the mixed materials. In some embodiments, the apparatus also includes a cyclone for separating an air stream from the dried materials. The dried materials are transported to one or more presses for pressing the dried materials, thereby reducing oil content. The one or more presses includes a first opening for delivering pressed oil to a centrifuge and a second opening for sending the pressed materials to a screener. A portion of the screened material is sent back to the mixer (and/or the grinder) and the balance of the screened material are sent to storage as a finished product.

1. An apparatus for processing animal byproduct materials, comprising:
 a. a grinder for grinding the byproduct materials; 
 b. a mixer for mixing the ground byproduct materials with an oil absorbing material and a backmix material, wherein the backmix material is a portion of a finished product; 
 c. a dryer for drying the mixed materials; and 
 d. a cyclone for separating an air stream from the dried materials, wherein the air stream is drawn into a scrubber and the dried materials are transported to one or more presses for pressing the dried materials, thereby reducing oil content from the dried materials. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the one or more presses includes a first opening for delivering pressed oil to a centrifuge and a second opening for transporting the pressed materials to a screener. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein a portion of the screened material is sent back to the mixer and the balance of the screened material are sent to storage as a finished product. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein a portion of the screened material is sent back to the grinder and the balance of the screened material are sent to storage as a finished product. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the byproduct materials have an original moisture content of about 50 to about 80 percent. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the ground and mixed materials contain less than 70 percent and greater than about 30 percent moisture prior to drying. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the dried materials contain about 2 to about 25 percent moisture. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the backmix material is a dried backmix material. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for processing animal byproduct materials, comprising:
 a. a grinder for grinding the byproduct materials; 
 b. a mixer for mixing the ground byproduct materials with an oil absorbing material and a backmix material, wherein the backmix material is a portion of a finished product; 
 c. a dryer for drying the mixed materials; and 
 d. a baghouse for separating an air stream from the dried materials, wherein the air stream is drawn into a scrubber and the dried materials are transported to one or more presses for pressing the dried materials, thereby reducing oil content from the dried materials. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the one or more presses includes a first opening for delivering pressed oil to a centrifuge and a second opening for transporting the pressed materials to a screener. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein a portion of the screened material is sent back to the mixer and the balance of the screened material are sent to storage as a finished product. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein a portion of the screened material is sent back to the grinder and the balance of the screened material are sent to storage as a finished product. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the byproduct materials have an original moisture content of about 50 to about 80 percent. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the ground and mixed materials contain less than 70 percent and greater than about 30 percent moisture prior to drying. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the dried materials contain about 2 to about 25 percent moisture. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the backmix material is a dried backmix material.